Celestine semiprecious gemstone index and mineral information

Celestine is named after the Latin word caelestis, meaning “heavenly.”  It is a mineral consisting of strontium sulfate. The mineral is named for its occasional delicate blue color. Celestine occurs as crystals, and also in compact massive and fibrous forms. It is mostly found in sedimentary rocks, and often associated with the minerals gypsum, anhydrite, and halite.

Celestine is also known as celestite.  It is a transparent to translucent mineral.  It is found on sedimentary rocks, like limestones.  Celestine is used in fireworks, as an additive to battery lead and in the manufacture of rubber and paint.  It is also used in the nuclear industry, in sugar beet refining, and in the preparation of iridescent glass and porcelain. The most attractive crystals are pale sky blue, but colorless celestine is also common.  Its perfect cleavage makes it very fragile, but it is cut for the collector. Faceted crystal comes from Majunga, Madagascar.

Best celestine crystals are found in Lake Erie (United States), Bristol (England) and Sicily (Italy), also in Madagascar, Mexico and Canada.   It is mined in England, Russia and Tunisia.

Moh’s hardness: 3-3 1/2